Bean Blog

Apple refuses to let Adobe Flash onto their iPhones, iPods and iPads. Is it all in the interest of the best for the web? Maybe, maybe not. Bean staff debates…

This morning, Steve Jobs wrote a long article on Apple’s site titled “Thoughts on Flash” where he outlined his company’s complete rationale for not accepting Flash on the iPhone/iPod/iPad platforms. Here are highlights of our internal discussions at Bean about this issue.

Emily Grossman: Because “it’s proprietary”?? BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Please.

Layla Masri: Do as I say, not as I do…

Keith Soares: While the proprietary argument is rather laughable, his points about low power use on mobile and supporting open standards do make sense. We are already working toward HTML5 as it becomes adopted into browsers.

Nathan Cross: I’ll bet Adobe is already working on an application focused on churning out HTML5 powered interactives, sort of like Flash, but instead of a SWF it pumps out a whole bunch of CSS and script files.

Emily Grossman: This is what rubbed me wrong: “Though the operating system for the iPhone, iPod and iPad is proprietary, we strongly believe that all standards pertaining to the web should be open.” That statement says “we believe” as in Apple decided. What if I think MP4 format should be open? Or the software running the iTunes store? Seems rather egotistical to say they have decided what is best for the web industry and it supports their stand on shutting out Flash, but it’s for the good of the web… If not for Adobe, Apple would have been in even worse shape 20 years ago. My feeling is, they should allow it with the caveat that if you download it and it is no good, then they won’t support the application. That’s a win-win. It would force Adobe to streamline their software to ensure that people do use it and it would keep Apple in good graces with the industry. That’s the true spirit of open source. Put things out there, get people using it, learn to make it better in order to survive. If flash is still bloated after 6 months and people start uninstalling it, then the onus to fix it is on Adobe. And they would if they wanted people to continue using it.

Keith Soares: HTML5 as an obvious next step in web development is imminent. However Apple’s real deal is that iPhone platform is currently UNIQUE. Other phones now have app stores, but will have a long road to catch up. If you could suddenly get any “iPhone” app on any device, why get an iPhone? Certainly not for AT&T’s awesome service… SO they have to keep their unique selling points unique. It is worth noting at the same time that Apple is not necessarily shutting down other third party development tools like Unity, because the same threat is not looming there.

The debate continues. Stay tuned.